DENVER — Coaches like to save their substitutions for the second half, to make tactical adjustments or spell tiring players. Real Salt Lake coach John Ellinger didn't have that luxury Friday night.

A first-half concussion to defender Daniel Torres and a back injury to keeper Scott Garlick opened the door for a pair of Real second-year players to make their season debut.

"It forces your hand a little bit," said Ellinger.

Early in the game, a freak injury to starting center back Daniel Torres enabled 17-year-old Nikolas Besagno to step onto the field for just the third time in his short career. In the sixth minute, Torres deflected a driven shot by Terry Cooke with his head. After blacking out and then playing for a few more minutes, he was eventually replaced about six minutes later by Besagno.

Besagno played well in his season debut. The 2005 No. 1 pick in the MLS SuperDraft started and played 68 minutes in a June game against FC Dallas last year, and then played one minute in a 2-2 draw with San Jose in the second-to-last game of the season.

Besagno was eventually replaced in the line-up by Ryan Johnson in the 72nd minute as Real Salt Lake switched to a 3-4-3 formation to try and secure an equalizer.

"He did well, he was very composed, had some timely tackles and won some balls in the air," said Ellinger.

For Garlick, he started suffering back spasms late in the first half. He finished the half, but Colorado native Jay Nolly replaced him at halftime.

Nolly started five games as a rookie last year, including a 2-1 loss at Invesco Field late in the season.

"Definitely I was excited to get in the game," said Nolly. "Coach said it was my job to keep the shutout in the second half because we've been a pretty good second half team scoring."

He did his job, but it wasn't enough.

FRUSTRATED CUNNINGHAM: No one seemed more frustrated after the loss than Jeff Cunningham.

Playing against his former team, Cunningham was held in check throughout the game by Colorado's defense, halting his magical run of six goals in the past four games.

"Obviously they're familiar with me, know my tendencies and I got caught offsides too many times tonight," said Cunningham, who was whistled for offsides four times. "Some of those calls should've gone my way."

Cunningham is tied for second in MLS with seven goals. He was tied for first, but Chivas USA's Ante Razov passed everyone with a pair of goals Thursday night, giving him eight on the season.

"Me personally, I'm not happy with my play tonight, and I'm taking it a little harder than the rest of the guys," said Cunningham.

SHORTHANDED: Real Salt Lake wasn't the only team shorthanded on Friday.

While RSL is missing Douglas Sequeira (Costa Rica) and Eddie Pope (USA), both of whom are playing in the World Cup, Colorado is also shorthanded playing without U.S. National Team midfielder Pablo Mastroeni.

For Colorado's sake, at least it wasn't missing goalkeeper Joe Cannon. One of MLS's elite keepers, Cannon had missed four straight games prior to earning his first shutout of the season Friday.